PM playing double game on Fata reforms: Mian Iftikhar

NOWSHERA: Awami National Party (ANP) general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Friday accused the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of playing double game on the proposed reforms in tribal areas.

Speaking at a function here, the nationalist leader said that the prime minister had first announced introducing reforms in tribal areas and then stopped the process through the allied parties of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

“The premier reneged on his pledges when it comes to giving rights to Pakhtuns,” he alleged. He said that ANP was the representative party of Pakhtuns and would continue the struggle for their rights.

Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Mian Iftikhar said the government had failed to de-politicise the police department. He alleged Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was using his influence to release criminals from police stations.

“The situation in police stations was far-more better in the previous ANP-led government in the province than today,” he claimed.He said the ANP had introduced reforms in police department, raised salaries of police and purchased modern weapons to enhance the capacity of the force.

About the Mashal Khan lynching incident in Mardan, he said that the society as whole had descended to intolerance, adding Islam did not permit anyone to kill someone on the basis of mere allegations. He said those involved in the barbaric murder should not escape justice.

He asked the religious scholars of all schools of thought to come forward to discourage increasing intolerance and violence in the society.